Sacking Mayfield no easy task
The Texans’ pass rush has harassed quarterbacks all season behind the resurgence of defensive end J.J. Watt.
Watt ranks first in the AFC with 11½ sacks, and the Texans rank sixth in the NFL with 34. They recorded a season-high six sacks Monday against the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans’ next opponent has a strong track record in pass protection. The Browns haven’t allowed a sack in their past 125 snaps, the longest current streak in the NFL. On Sunday at NRG Stadium, they will attempt to become the first Cleveland team since 1988 to not allow a sack for three consecutive games.
“I have a job to do and that’s my job to go out there and hopefully end that streak,” said Watt, who was listed on Friday’s injury report as questionable but is expected to play. “They’ve obviously been doing a good job. It’s going to be a good battle.”
Browns rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield, the top overall pick from Oklahoma, has a quick release. He has only been sacked 22 times and has thrown 17 touchdown passes.
“They do a really good job,” Texans coach Bill
O’Brien said. “The line does a good job. They’ve got a really talented offensive line. Baker does a good job of getting rid of the ball. Sometimes, he escapes, obviously does a great job with his feet.”
Mayfield frequently throws to wide receiver
Jarvis Landry, a threetime Pro Bowl selection who leads the Browns with 60 catches for 630 yards and two touchdowns.
“It’s not a sorry team,” said linebacker Jadeveon
Clowney, who has seven sacks and 15 quarterback hits. “I know everybody keeps thinking the Cleveland Browns, but they’re not sorry. They’ve got a lot of first-round draft picks, a lot of guys that could’ve been first-round draft picks like Jarvis Landry, a physical wide receiver.
“( Nick) Chubb’s a great running back. They’ve got a lot of good talent over there. We’ve just got to prepare well and get ready to play.”
Mathieu nixes Williams’ offer
The Browns’ interim head coach Gregg Williams tried to recruit Tyrann Mathieu during free agency, but Mathieu had other ideas. He wound up joining the Texans on a one-year, $7 million deal and has made a big impact throughout the season.
“Obviously, it was an interesting conversation,” Mathieu said. “He’s a guy that I’ve followed in the league, especially growing up in New Orleans and the different things he did with New Orleans. It was an interesting conversation, but, at the end of the day, I didn’t feel like that was the right fit for me.”
Mathieu is intrigued by the prospects of signing a long-term contract extension with the Texans this offseason. And so are the Texans. They’re enamored of his leadership and skills.
“I’m sure Tyrann will tell you that I was trying like heck to recruit him to come here,” Williams said. “I think he’s done a very good job. He’s smart as all get out on how he’s able to help other people play around him because he has a lot of awareness of where the ball’s going.
“Those are some of the things you really can’t coach. You’re just born with those things.”
QB a rookie in name only
The Browns’ Baker
Mayfield doesn’t behave or play like a raw rookie.
He passed for 258 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions during Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He has won two of his past three starts and is the first rookie QB in NFL history to post a 140-plus passer rating in consecutive games.
“When I watch him on tape, I don’t really see a rookie quarterback,” safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “I see a guy that can progressively go through his reads, get the ball downfield. He’s more accurate than what I’ve heard people say he is. So, he’s a great talent. We’ll have our hands full with him.”